North Dakota State in Talks to Join Mountain West as Football-Only Member

Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports reported that “The Mountain West is in serious dialogue to add FCS powerhouse North Dakota State as a football-only member starting this season, sources tell Yahoo Sports,” and added that “A deal could be finalized as soon as this weekend.” A Mountain West campus source confirmed the accuracy of the report to The Forum but stressed the deal is not done yet, and NDSU officials had not issued an on-the-record confirmation.

If completed, the move would bring North Dakota State into the Mountain West as a football-only member alongside Northern Illinois, taking the conference to 10 football-playing teams in 2026. That addition comes amid dramatic conference realignment: Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah State are set to transition to a rebuilt Pac-12, the Mountain West is adding UTEP as a full member and Northern Illinois for football, and non-football members Grand Canyon and UC Davis are also joining. The Athletic has noted the league remains entangled in a legal fight with the Pac-12 over $150 million in exit and poaching fees, while the Mountain West’s new media-rights package with FOX Sports, CBS Sports, The CW and Kiswe takes effect this coming season.

The football logic for NDSU’s elevation is explicit. The Bison have won 10 FCS national championships since 2011, including five straight from 2011-2015 and three straight from 2017-2019. FCS Football Central records them as 51-6 in postseason play since 2008, the most playoff wins in subdivision history. The program was the No. 1 seed in last season’s FCS Playoffs before falling to MVFC rival Illinois State. The Athletic notes NDSU is 9-5 against FBS opponents since 2004, with marquee wins over Iowa, Iowa State and Minnesota twice. The program’s NFL pedigree includes first-round picks Carson Wentz, Trey Lance and offensive lineman Grey Zabel.

Financial terms remain opaque. Reporting from aggregators relayed Dellenger’s description of a “substantial” entry fee, but no dollar amount has been published. Local outreach generated limited responses: “A message to NDSU President David Cook's spokeswoman was not immediately returned.” Athletic director Matt Larsen “declined comment when reached by WDAY‑TV’s Dom Izzo,” and head coach Tim Polasek “did not have a comment when reached by The Forum.” Larsen has previously stated the administration’s ambition: “I would say in terms of our position, I think both myself and President Cook, we want to play at the highest level. And right now, the highest level is FBS football.”

Beyond wins and trophies, the move carries business and cultural weight. For the Mountain West, adding the Bison injects a nationally recognized winning brand into a conference reshuffling roiled by departures and litigation, improving television appeal and recruiting reach. For North Dakota State, the jump would accelerate recruiting momentum, increase game guarantees and alter local economic patterns in Fargo on game weekends. For the broader FCS community, it is another marker in the pathway from FCS to FBS exemplified by James Madison and Sam Houston in recent years.

For now, the report remains a developing story. With multiple outlets citing a possible weekend resolution, the next 48 to 72 hours could clarify whether the Bison’s stretch run of FCS dominance will begin a new chapter on the FBS stage.